The Seasons Amherstburg resident celebrated her 100th birthday with friends, a few dignitaries and, of course, a big 100th birthday cake. White said she felt fine on her big day but was taken aback by the party thrown in her honour.

“Yes, I should say,” said White, when asked about whether she was surprised.

Even though she was surprised, White was pleased with the party.

“This is lovely,” said White. “I can’t believe how nice it is.”

Lynn Smith, the lifestyles services manager at Seasons Amherstburg, described White as “a simple, easy to please lady” who didn’t want too much of a fuss on her birthday.

“She wanted to keep it nice and easy,” said Smith.

Marie White (left) is presented with an award from the town on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Making the presentation to White is Deputy Mayor Bart DiPasquale.

White celebrated with her family the previous weekend with last Wednesday’s party being on her actual birthday. She said she doesn’t have a secret on how she has lived as long as she has but had one piece of advice: “you just keep going.”

Keeping going is something White does regularly, Smith noted. White is seen regularly with her walker “doing laps” of the halls and keeping as active as she can. White has two daughters and several grandchildren and one of the highlights of her century-long life has simply been to be around her family.

Deputy Mayor Bart DiPasquale presented White with a framed certificate from the town of Amherstburg while Chief Tim Berthiaume and Deputy Chief Ian Chappell wishing White well. Berthiaume presented her with a special commemorative coin with the police logo on it.

A group of seniors at Seasons Amherstburg have gotten their hands dirty by growing some food for themselves and fellow residents.

A vegetable garden in the back of the Front Road South retirement home is producing far more vegetables than what was originally anticipated and that is fine with the residents and staff, said lifestyle services manager Lynn Smith.

The garden features tomatoes, beans, watermelon, cucumbers, green peppers and pumpkins and has been going since late spring.

“In March, we normally put seeds in pots inside,” said Smith.

Smith took it one step further and with the aid of residents Nida Agostinis, Jean Farr, Marg Cote, Joanne Reaume, Betty Labombard and others, the plants were eventually transferred into trays. The trays were moved in and out of the building until to acclimate them to the outdoors, said Smith, and with Agostinis’ guidance, they were eventually planted outside.

The plans are growing better than anticipated with Smith joking with the ladies that they are going to have to put a stand out at the road. What is actually going to happen to the vegetables is that they are going to be used in the kitchen during meal preparations.